This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 at 7:42 am and is filed under General health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Natural Health and Herbal Remedies Blog
information on herbal medicine
MORE ABOUT VITAMINS: VITAMIN C
Years ago, when Nobel prize winner Dr. Linus Pauling announced that vitamin C has a beneficial effect on the immune system, I was unimpressed. Like many other medical doctors, I had little faith in vitamins. But as I studied vitamin C and saw the effects it had on patients, I became convinced that vitamin C is necessary for good immune-system functioning. Some years ago, when I met Dr. Pauling, I was pleased to tell him that he had helped me see the power of vitamin C. More importantly, his work increased my awareness of the health-giving properties of vitamins and minerals in general.
There is a genetic disorder called Chediak-Higashi disease, which is highlighted by a marked lowering of resistance to bacterial infections. Patients who have this disease suffer from recurrent tissue abcesses, sinusitis and pneumonia, all of which are difficult to treat, and the disease is often fatal. Their white blood cell count drops, and the killing power of the cells is reduced. This is a dangerous sign, because the white blood cells bear the brunt of defending the body against disease. Vitamin C has corrected the problem in many patients studied, and it therefore serves as a model for the use of nutrients in helping the immune system to function effectively.
Vitamin C also improves the mobility of white blood cells. Using a video camera and screen hooked up to a microscope, I have seen sluggish white blood cells taken from patients with recurrent infections. After giving these people an injection of vitamin C, I put a fresh sample of their blood under the microscope and watch as the previously “lazy” white blood cells move about energetically.
Vitamin C has been used to speed up recoverv from pneumonia, mononucleosis, hepatitis and almost all viral infections, including AIDS. Studies are underway to evaluate vitamin C as an interferon-releasing agent. (A natural substance produced by your lymphocytes, interferon is involved in the battle against virus and cancer.) Vitamin C stimulates T- and B-cells, as well as the giant “cell eaters” (macrophages) which gobble up and destroy bacteria, viruses, fungi and other disease-causing antigens. In addition, vitamin C is an antioxidant and scavenger of free radicals. (Oxidation of molecules in your body is analogous to the rusting of a piece of iron. See vitamin E, below, for more information on free radicals.)
*213\80\8*
RelatedPosts:
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.